He pointed out that the Madras High Court had directed the EC to file cases against Jayalalithaa for furnishing false information. Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy had ordered the Returning Officers of Bhuvanagiri and Pudukottai to file cases against her. Now the EC has stated before the Supreme Court that she had not committed any mistake.

Meanwhile, in his response (as sought by the Supreme Court), DMK MP C Kuppusamy, on whose petition the High Court had issued the direction to the Election Commission, alleged that Jayalalithaa had “exerted undue influence” on the Returning Officers who “did not perform their duties properly”.

As for Jayalalithaa’s contention that the nominations filed in the third and fourth constituencies were not in confirmation with law, Kuppusamy said: “The declarations made before the Returning Officers of all four constituencies are liable for punishment as they are grave crimes.”